Electric control



Nov. 22, 1955 w. E. BROWN ELECTRIC CONTROL Filed Feb. 17, 1953 IN VEN TOR. WILLIAM E. BROWN United States Patent C) ELECTRIC CONTRCBL William E. Brown, Anderson, 1nd, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Application February 17, 1953, denial No. 337,377

6 Claims. (Cl. 281-48) This invention relates to the control of black-light operation and is specifically directed to a switch structure for starting the lamps and for varying the intensity of? light emitted over a range of bright through dim to o A terminal assembly is provided that has sets of circuit elements symmetrically arranged in groups about a source terminal, on which is pivoted a bridging contactor sweeping the sets of circuit elements as contacts in response to movement of a driver assembly. Each set of circuit elements includes a starter contact face joined to a bright contact face connected with one end of a rheostat of variable resistance for dim light operation, all to be traversed by the bridging contactor. An isolated Contact adjacent one of the start contacts is positioned for engagement by a stop arm of the driver assembly when it moves the contactor to the start position. A rotatabledriver assembly has a spring detent relative to an enclosing cup or housing, and mounts a stop arm and nonconducting contact driver to rotate the bridging contaetor of the terminal assembly throughout a range of movement from oil, through dim to bright light position. The stop arm then engages a return spring which must be compressed or stretched in further movement of the driver assembly from a bright light position to the start position, where an extension of the stop arm engages the isolated contact of the terminal assembly. The return spring is confined between stops on the housing one of which is so positioned that the spring is engaged by the stop arm when moved from the bright light position to lamp start position, and operates to return the driver assembly to the bright light'position directly that the control knob is released.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention are apparent from the following description reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings: v

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a black-light system and controller according to the instant invention, the contact arrangement being somewhat as indicated by the line and arrows 11 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of a switch back or contact and terminal assembly of the control switch for black-light operation.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view'of the control switch substantially as indicated by the line and arrows 3'- 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the contact driver assembly substantially as indicated by the line and arrows 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a similar view as indicated by the line and arrows 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the spring used in the driver assembly.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a contactor used in the terminal assembly.

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Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section thereof.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a contact driver mechanically connecting the terminal assembly with the driver assembly.

Fig. 10 is a view in section showing a particular circuit making relation, such as start, somewhat as indicated by the line and arrows 1010 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a portion of the terminal member somewhat as indicated by the line and arrows 11-"-11 of Fig. 10 and showing the relation of some of the contacts.

In Fig. 1, a schematic view shows violet-ray emitters 1, 2, 3 and 4 connected in parallel between a ground 5 and a battery or source 6 by means of a control switch 7'. Cathode elements 8 of the emitters connect bywi're 9 to ground 5 and by wire 10 to a contact group 11 of the switch 7, while anode elements 12 of the emitters connect by wire 13 with a contact group 14, both contact groups 11 and 14 being traversed by a bridging contactor 15 rotatable on a centralized source terminal 16, a wire 17 connecting with the battery 6 grounded at 18. In the anode circuit 13 there is a choke 19 connected to the contact group 14, and in parallel with it a branch '20 including a resistance 21 and condenser 22 that is grounded at 23. Between the resistance 21 and condenser 22 a wire 24 connects with an isolated contact 25 adjacent the contact group 11 and adapted to be connected to ground at 26.

The contact groups 11 and 14 are similar in makeup and are diametrically arranged about the source terminal 16. The contact group 11 includes, as shown in Fig. l, a starter contact 28, serially connected to a bright light contact 30 and one end of a resistance 32 whose succes sive turns are engageable with one end of the bridging contactor 15 for control of the energy supplied to the cathode circuit of the emitters. The diametrically arranged anode group 14 includes the serially connected elements 34, 36 and 38 traversed by the bridging conmotor 15 for control of the anodecircuit 13. Isolated contact 25 is associated with one of the groups so as to be engaged when a contact driver is moved to the start position.

These contacts and circuit elements are mounted on a terminal member or switch back 40 composed of three layers of nonconducting material 40a, 40b and 40c which are apertured for reception of the terminal members 16, 2 3 and 34 and 25 each of which receive a ter minal clip such as 42 44, 46 and 48 shown in Fig. 2. The starter contacts 28 and 34 are diametrically opposed and equally distant from the contact 16, and the isolated contact 25 is on the same are from the central terminal 16. On the inner face of the terminal block 40 the source terminal 16 is extendedto provide a central bearing for reception of the contactor 15. The bridging contactor 15 is shown in Figs. 7 and 8 and comprises a blade 50 apertured at 52 to pass over the extension terminal 16, and has embossed loops 54 on the opposite sides of aperture 52. When assembled on the terminal 16 the loops space the blade 50 from a retaining washer 56 secured upon the terminal. stud by peening or riveting over as at 58. When the contactor 15 is so mounted the blade 50 is flexed to increase the pressure of engagement between contact buttons 6i and thecontact elem-ents of the terminal body, such as is shown in Fig. 3. The contactor '15 is also provided with radial arms 62 and-right angle extensions 64 adapted to engage notches 66 in a disc 68 of the driving assembly.

The driving disc is made of nonconducting material and has a central depression 70 with an opening 72 receptive of a driving shaft 74. The shaft 74 is in driving relation with a head portion 76 on a stop arm 80 extending radially through a notch 82 of the disc 68. A spacer 84 on the shaft is disposed between the disc 68 and a flexible arm 86 carrying a detent ball 88 movable over the inner surface of a housing cup 9%. The cup supports a bushing 92 within which the shaft 74 is rotatable for driving the disc 68, stop arm 80 and detent member 86. Coiled about the bushing 92 there is a helical spring 94 confined between stops 96 and 98 struck up from the housing cup and so disposed as to have one end 19% engaged by the stop arm 80 toward one end of its rotative movement. That is at the point where the contactor 15 passes from the bright light contacts to the start contacts, as viewed in Fig. 1. In the start position a lateral branch 102 of the stop arm 80 engages the isolated contact 25, just before the stop arm 80 is arrested by the stop 104. The spring 94 then being under stress, the driver will return to the bright light position at which point the end 100 of the spring reengages the stop 96. The driver may be rotated to any other position between the stop 104 and an off stop 106 at which point the detent ball 88 drops into an aperture 198 provided by the housing cup 90. A switch having these provisions and connected in the circuits as shown in Fig. 1 has its driver assembly connected to ground 26 as schematically illustrated in Fig. l by wires 110 and member 112. In the off position as illustrated by dotted lines no current flows from the battery 6 and all circuits are open. As the bridging contact 15 is rotated it wipes over the contact groups 11 and 14- to the start position shown in solid lines Fig. 1 which connects both the cathode circuits and anode circuit with the battery 6. In that position the isolated contact 25 connects ground 26, wire 110, member 112 and wire 24 with one side of the condenser 22 which sets up proper energization circuits, thus allowing the emitters 1, 2, 3, 4 to be energized. That is done by rotating the driver assembly clockwise as viewed in Fig. 4 until the stop arm 80 picks up the spring arm 100 and engages the isolated contact 25. As soon as the emitters 1, 2, 3, 4 are lighted and the driver assembly is released, the bridging contactor will be reversed under the influence of spring 94 to rotate the bridging contactor to the bright light position engaging the elements 30 and 36. If a subdued illumination is desired the bridging contactor 15 will be rotated clockwise to some point along the resistances 32 and 38, the anode circuit and cathode circuit both being diminished coincidentally.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A control switch for controlling the operation of black-light tubes comprising, a contact and terminal assembly having a support, a plurality of fixed contacts mounted on said support and adapted to be connected when the tubes are effective, a rotatable bridging contact for engaging said fixed contact, a rotatable operating member for actuating said bridging contact, a separate contact also mounted on said support and adapted to be connected to ground to initially effect heating of the tubes, a contact carried by said operating member and movable into engagement with said separate contact when said member is moved to a predetermined position in order to connect said separate contact to ground, and spring means opposing movement of said operating member to such predetermined position, said spring means being effective to move said operating member out of said predetermined position to break the connection of said separate contact to ground when the tubes are effective.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein, the

said plurality of contacts includes diametrically opposed contact elements each of which is connected to a variable resistance engageable by the bridging contact to control the brightness of the lights and the separate contact is located adjacent one of the fixed contacts, and wherein means is provided for connecting the separate contact with ground when the bridging contact engages the said fixed contacts.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein, the mechanism for actuating the bridging contact includes a rotatable shaft rotatable to move the bridging contact from an off position through a dimming range to a position to initially heat the tubes, a stop arm on said shaft, and a spring adapted to be engaged by said stop arm prior to rotation of said arm to the last-named position.

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein, the separate contact is a flexible leaf anchored at one end to a circuit terminal and adapted to be engaged and flexed by an extension of the rotating actuating member when the bridging contact is moved to position to initially heat the tubes.

5. A control switch for a lighting circuit comprising a contact and terminal assembly having fixed and movable contacts, a rotatable operating mechanism for operating said movable contact, a housing enclosing the movable contact and its operating mechanism, said operating mechanism including a rotatable shaft movable to different positions to control the operation of the switch, a detent plate for holding the shaft in adjusted position, a stop arm and a body of insulating material, said detent plate arm and body being supported on and rotatable with the shaft, a plurality of stops formed on the housing and spaced from the shaft, a helical spring surrounding the shaft and positioned between the shaft and said stops, said spring having a projecting end engageable by the stop arm upon rotation of the shaft in one direction in order to oppose rotation of said shaft near one end of its range of rotation, said body of insulating material having means engaging the movable contact so as to move said contact as the shaft is rotated to control the effectiveness of said circuit.

6. A control switch for controlling the operation of black-light tubes comprising a contact and terminal assembly having a support, a plurality of diametrically opposed fixed contacts on said support, one of which is adapted to be connected to the cathode and the other to the anode of said tube, a central terminal adapted to be connected to a current source, a rotatable contact member electrically connected to said terminal and movable to a position to engage said fixed contacts, a rotatable shaft for rotating said movable contact into switch closing position, a body of insulating material supported on and rotatable with the shaft, means connecting the movable contact with said body for rotation thereby as said shaft is rotated, a stop arm carried by said shaft and engageable with a fixed stop to limit the movement of said shaft in one direction, a separate contact and means for connecting said separate contact to ground in order to effect initial heating of said tube and means operable by said stop arm, as it engages said stop upon movement of said movable contact into engagement with the fixed contacts, to connect said separate contact to ground.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,715,015 Soreng May 28, 1929 1,967,519 Soreng July 24, 1934 2,427,277 Hasselbaum Sept. 9, 1947 

